Driver Dies As Garbage Truck Overturns On Parkway In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Berkeley Township man was killed Friday when he was ejected from a garbage truck during a crash on the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey State Police said.

David Mello Jr., 56, of Bayville, died at the site of the crash, which happened at 1:18 p.m. in the area of milepost 82.8 southbound, Sgt. Philip Curry of the New Jersey State Police said.

Mello was driving a Peterbilt 320 garbage truck and ran off the Parkway to the right, hitting multiple trees, Curry said. He was ejected as the truck crashed and suffered fatal injuries, Curry said.

The southbound lanes of the Parkway remained open during the investigation but heavy traffic resulted, Curry said, contributing to traffic backups that extended north to Wall Township, along with congestion on side roads as people tried to avoid the Parkway traffic.

The crash remains under investigation, he said.